Israel carried out multiple airstrikes across Gaza on Sunday, the 19th of October, 2025, claiming retaliation against Hamas after accusing the group of attacking its troops, the deadliest escalation since the ceasefire began nine days ago.
Gaza’s civil defence agency, which operates under Hamas, reported that at least 33 people were killed across the territory. The Israeli military said it was still verifying the reported casualties.
In a statement Sunday evening, the Israeli military announced: “In response to the blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement earlier today, the IDF (Israeli military) has begun a series of strikes against Hamas terror targets in the southern Gaza Strip.”
Hamas dismissed the claims, with one official accusing Israel of fabricating “pretexts” to restart the conflict.
Later that night, the Israeli military confirmed that two of its soldiers “fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip.” A security official also said Israel had halted the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, blaming “Hamas’s blatant violations” of the truce.
Throughout the war, Israel repeatedly blocked aid deliveries, worsening the humanitarian crisis. The United Nations has warned that the blockade pushed northern Gaza into famine.
Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed security agencies to take “strong action against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip,” alleging that Hamas had committed “a ceasefire violation.” Defence Minister Israel Katz also warned that Hamas would “pay a heavy price for every shot and every breach of the ceasefire,” promising an “increasingly severe” response.
Violence resumes after truce
The ceasefire, brokered by US President Donald Trump and effective since October 10, ended more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas. The deal involved plans for hostage-prisoner swaps and a framework for Gaza’s post-war administration but is already facing serious setbacks.
“Earlier today, terrorists fired anti-tank missiles and opened fire on IDF (army) forces,” the Israeli military said. “The IDF responded with air strikes by fighter jets and artillery fire, targeting the Rafah area.”
Palestinian witnesses told AFP that clashes broke out in Rafah, where Israeli troops remain. A 38-year-old witness, who asked not to be named, said Hamas had been battling a local gang called Abu Shabab before being “surprised by the presence of army tanks.” He added, “The air force conducted two strikes from the air.”
In central Gaza, Abdullah Abu Hasanin, 29, from Al-Bureij camp, described scenes of chaos. “The situation is as if the war has returned anew. We had hoped the agreement would hold, but the occupation respects nothing, not an agreement, not anything,” he said. “The scene is indescribable. Blood has returned again.”
Ceasefire under pressure
Izzat Al-Rishq, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau, reiterated that the group remained committed to the ceasefire and accused Israel of continuing “to breach the agreement and fabricate flimsy pretexts to justify its crimes.”
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Hamas’s armed wing also stated that it was upholding the truce and had “no knowledge” of any hostilities in Rafah.
Under Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan, Israel has withdrawn beyond the Yellow Line, maintaining control over roughly half of Gaza, including border areas but excluding major cities. Hamas has released 20 hostages alive and is returning the remains of those killed.
Since the war began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, at least 68,159 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, figures deemed credible by the United Nations. More than half of the dead are women and children. Hamas’s assault on Israel killed 1,221 people, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli data.
Recovery of bodies continues
Israel on Sunday identified two recently recovered bodies as those of photojournalist and ambulance volunteer Ronen Engel, and Thai farmworker Sonthaya Oakkharasri.
The health ministry in Gaza said Israel returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians that day, raising the total number of bodies handed over to 150.
The recovery of hostage remains has emerged as a key challenge in enforcing the ceasefire. On Saturday, Israel tied the reopening of the Rafah crossing to the retrieval of all deceased individuals.
Hamas has said it requires more time and technical support to extract the remaining bodies trapped beneath the rubble in Gaza.